Kentucky Employee Handbook

When your company hires employees in Kentucky, you are required to comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. There are a variety of human resources and labor policies in the workplace that differ by state. Through your employee handbook, employers can easily document and distribute the correct policies to their employees to comply with the laws of each state.

Creating your Kentucky Employee Handbook is a useful way to explain important policies and procedures, mitigate legal risk, and introduce employees to the expectations and operating practices of the organization.

Mosey has compiled the relevant policies a company with employees in Kentucky must consider.

Kentucky Employee Handbook Policies

There are 7 state and local employee handbook policies in Kentucky.

Wage and Hour

Kentucky Rest Break Policy

You are entitled to a paid 10-minute rest period for every four hours of work. These rest periods are in addition to your regular meal breaks, and your wages cannot be reduced for taking them.

Kentucky Lactation Break Policy

You are entitled to reasonable break time to express breast milk, typically aligned with existing breaks. A private, secure, and sanitary space near your work area will be provided, excluding bathrooms. If a dedicated space is unavailable, an alternative will be arranged.

Employer prohibits discrimination or retaliation related to pregnancy, childbirth, or exercising rights under this policy. Exceptions apply if accommodations create undue hardship.

Kentucky Meal Break Policy

You are entitled to a reasonable, uninterrupted, unpaid meal break, if you work five or more hours in a shift, taken no sooner than the third hour and no later than the fifth hour of your work shift, unless a mutual agreement exists between you and your employer. A duty-free meal period is unpaid.

Leaves of Absence

Kentucky Jury Duty Leave Policy

Employer will not fire or demote you if you are called to jury duty.

Kentucky Military Service Leave Policy

You are permitted to take job-protected, unpaid time off to attend active duty as a member of the National Guard.

Kentucky Volunteer Emergency Responder Leave Policy

You are entitled to job-protected, unpaid leave to perform emergency duties as a volunteer emergency responder. A statement from the supervisor of the agency, verifying your response to an emergency and listing the time and date of the incident, is required.

Kentucky Voting Leave Policy

Employees in the state of Kentucky are entitled to a reasonable amount of time of not less than four hours to cast a ballot on the day of an election, or request an application for or execute an absentee ballot upon notice of at least one day in advance. Employer will specify the hours during which you may leave to vote.

Federal Employee Handbook Policies

Regardless of which states you have employees in, there are required federal policies that must be included in your employee handbook. In addition to any state-specific policies, your employee handbook for Kentucky should contain the following federal policies.

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
• Anti-Retaliation Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Handbook Policy Best Practices

In addition to the required federal policies, the following policies are best practices to include in your employee handbook.

• Prohibited Conduct Policy
• Violations Reporting Policy
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
• Weapons Policy
• Disciplinary Action Policy
• At-Will Employment
• Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Policy